Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Granada or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Granada and La Fortuna. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Granada or La Fortuna?
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Granada Prices
Nicaragua PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGranada $50La Fortuna $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $50, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $123. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Granada and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGranada $17La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGranada $34La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Granada and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Granada or La Fortuna? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Granada Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Granada $8.54La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- Leon: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- From One way shared transfer to Rivas: $39
- From One way shared transfer to Leon: $39
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tabacón Arenal: $39
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To La Fortuna: $40
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $49
- One-Way Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde through Arenal Lake: $57
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Guided Tour to Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges with Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $110
- One Way Private Transfer - La Fortuna to your Selected Location: $128
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7to10: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Granada change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGranada $24La Fortuna $47
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class : $43
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $47
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $54
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $71
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch : $72
- Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Granada $10La Fortuna $44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.14
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- Isletas Boat Tour: $32
- Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $33
- Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
- Granada Colonial Granada Horse Carriage and Walking Tour: $35
- Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
- City Tour Granada, Nicaragua.: $40
- Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
- Mountain Biking Tour with Snacks and Drinks: $45
- Lake Nicaragua Kayak Tour: $45
- Las Isletas Boat Tour: $45
- Masaya Volcano Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
- Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Petting Zoo Interactive Farm Experience: $20
- Three hours walking tour around the deep Tropical Rain Forest: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua : $25
- Frog Sanctuary Tour at Night : $29
- Birdwatching Tour in La Fortuna: $29
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Excellent Wildlife Tour in Bijagua de Upala: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Sloth and Monkey Wild Life Tour : $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGranada $7.48La Fortuna $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience : $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in La Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna than you might in Granada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Granada or La Fortuna?
Granada has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Granada and La Fortuna, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Granada or La Fortuna?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Granada or La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in Granada. In July, Granada usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Granada usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during summer. Granada gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Granada is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGranada 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Granada or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
Both La Fortuna and Granada during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
December to April is the dry season in La Fortuna. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. La Fortuna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Granada. Granada usually gets less rain in October than La Fortuna. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Granada often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Granada gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
Granada is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGranada 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Granada or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Granada usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Granada, it's very sunny this time of the year. Granada usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Granada gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Granada is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Granada in January average around 26°C (79°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGranada 26°C (79°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Granada or La Fortuna in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Granada as well as La Fortuna. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Also, December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. Also, May to November in La Fortuna is the hurricane season. Granada usually gets less rain in April than La Fortuna. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Granada this time of the year. In the spring, Granada often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Granada gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Granada is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 29°C (84°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGranada 29°C (84°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Granada
| Granada | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.